The essential episodes of ThunderCats
Watch these 15 in order and you've got ThunderCats — each pick states its reason.
- 01
With their home planet, Thundera, about to explode, the Thunderians flee to a distant galaxy. Before they can make the long journey the Mutants sweep in and destroy most of the fleet in an attempt to capture the Eye of Thundera. Due to the attack, the Thundercats find themselves on a distant planet. A grown-up Lion-O must save his Thundercats from the Mutants on Third Earth.
- 02
The Mutants, who have also reached Third Earth, encounter an old pyramid. It turns out to be the home of Mumm-Ra the Ever-Living, and they join forces to capture the Sword of Omens. Both the Mutants and Mumm-Ra attempt to attack Lion-O to possess the Sword, but miserably fail.
- 03
Mumm-Ra uses his shapeshifting abilities to pass himself off as a Thunderian so he can stage the "rescue" of Cheetara and infiltrate Cats' Lair.
- 04
With their supply of Thundrillium running low, the Thundercats set off in search of a fresh supply. Tygra detects a large deposit in a cave and goes to investigate - unfortunately, he has entered the Cave of Time and anyone who ventures in there will age rapidly until they die. His only hope is that Cheetara's speed will be fast enough to allow her to escape the Cave's effects.
- 05
Wilykit and Wilykat try to stop a band of living gargoyles from robbing a Wollo but fail to do so and trail the gargoyles to a nearby Tower. Wilykat is trying force the door open when he suddenly disappears, leaving Wilykit - who was looking for another way in - close to panic. She and Lion-O (alerted by the Sword of Omens) must now brave the Tower's potentially lethal traps in order to rescue Wilykat.
- 06
While investigating an earthquake, Tygra stumbles across the Garden of Delights and meets a talking plant named Silky, who offers him her fruit. But it turns out that "Silky" is another of Mumm-Ra's disguises and eating the fruit seems to have affected Tygra's mind.
- 07
The Mutants, once again searching for a way to destroy the Thundercats, recover some more items from their spaceship. They take their ship's engine and convert it into a giant fireball-shooting machine. The mutants terrorize Third Earth with their fireballs, until the Thundercats go to castle Plunn-Darr and destroy their dangerous new weapon.
- 08
Mumm-Ra tricks Lion-O into using the Sword of Omens against Tygra, causing the blade to break in half and lose its powers. The only way Lion-O can restore the Sword is to venture into a volcano and have the Inflamer reforge it. But the Inflamer requires a payment of gold... Has Lion-O taken on more than he can handle?
- 09
An evil hunter lands on third earth in search of prey to hunt. His holographic machine can tell him about all of the Thundercats, including their strengths and weaknesses, and he is able to hunt down each one of them and put them in Thundrainium cells. He captures all of them but Lion-O and Snarf. Jaga warns Lion-O about Safari Joe before he sets out to save his comrades, and Lion-O is able to defeat him and release his friends.
- 10
Vultureman invents a Super Power Potion which give him magical powers, enabling him to mesmerize and defeat Tygra.
- 11
Jackalman ambushes Snarf and attempts to steal the Sword of Omens. This gives Panthro the idea to make a duplicate sword as bait for the Mutants.
- 12
Recurring nightmares of Thunderians killed on Thundera as he fled to safety with Jaga and the other ThunderCats awaken Lion-O. Jaga comes to tell him that they in fact survived and are living on Third Earth. After meeting with the other ThunderCats, they decide to begin searching for them but Mumm-Ra has plans as well.
- 13
Mumm-Ra learns about the Treasure of Thundera and the Sword of Plundarr (Jaga had beaten Ratilla, who owned the Sword, and then buried the sword deep underground), and he and Ma-Mutt ""travel back in time and space"" to explore the debris of Thundera and look for the sword, which causes the planet to reform. The Thundercats find out about this and must make the journey to New Thundera to stop Mumm-Ra. Lynx-O and the Thunderkittens are left at the tower while the other Thundercats at the Lair are preparing the Feliner for the trip to New Thundera. Vultureman notices that the tower is only guarded by 3 Thundercats and goes to Sky Tomb and tells Luna. Luna then sends Red Eye and Tug Mug to attack the Tower, and they capture Lynx-O and the Thunderkittens.
- 14
The Ancient Spirits of Evil give new life to Mumm-Ra and Ma-Mutt, send them to New Thundera, and build a new Pyramid for Mumm-Ra. The Thundercats say goodbye to Third Earth and depart for Thundera, leaving Tygra and Pumyra behind to watch Cat's Lair and the Tower of Omens. The Thundercats soon arrive and begin plans to build a new lair. Mumm-Ra meanwhile learns that the planet's gravity is controled by the Gyroscope under the Churning Rocks at the center of the planet. The Gyroscope is guarded by Jaguara, an ancient Thundercat sorceress. Mumm-Ra disguises himself as Jaga and puts Jaguara under a spell, making her change the rotation of the Gyroscope to throw the Thundercats clear off the planet. As the Thundercats are floating away, Lion-O calls on the Eye of Thundera to help him, and it breaks Mumm-Ra's spell... but not before Mumm-Ra takes part of the Gyroscope's regulator. Without those controls, the planet will be destroyed within 2 hours...
- 15
New Thundera is being torn apart and the Thundercats must present certain artifacts at various dangerous locations that used to be beautiful places, then Lion-O must go into the book and give the Key of Thundera to the guardian of the book ""at the 24th hour,"" or the Thundercats will be frozen in time and New Thundera will be destroyed. But Mumm-Ra steals the book and key and journeys into the book himself. He wants to save New Thundera BUT wants the Thundercats frozen in time. The Ancient Spirits of Evil try to stop Mumm-Ra because they fear if Mumm-Ra goes into the book, their powers will cease to exist. The other Thundercats run into problems also at the locations they are supposed to be at. Lion-O goes into the book using the Sword of Omens and battles Mumm-Ra one on one, neither of them using any magic. Even when Mumm-Ra cheats, Lion-O still wins. The ASOE summon their ""champion,"" Pyron, to then fight Lion-O, but Lion-O gets the dragons in the book to fry him... He presents the key
Shows like ThunderCats
The closest matches on shared genres, ranked by match strength and popularity.
- 01Action·Adventure·FantasyThe essential episodes of Avatar: The Last Airbender2024–present
A young boy known as the Avatar must master the four elemental powers to save a world at war — and fight a ruthless enemy bent on stopping him. - 02Action·Adventure·Fantasy·AnimeThe essential episodes of One Piece1999–present·Fuji TVOne Piece animation is based on the successful comic by Eiichiro Oda.
- 03Action·Adventure·FantasyThe essential episodes of One Piece2023–presentWith his straw hat and ragtag crew, young pirate Monkey D.
- 04Action·Adventure·FantasyThe essential episodes of The Legend of Korra2012–2014·Nickelodeon
Avatar Korra fights to keep Republic City safe from the evil forces of both the physical and spiritual worlds. - 05Action·Adventure·FantasyThe essential episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess1995–2001Same network — Syndication"In a time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero.
- 06Action·Adventure·FantasyThe essential episodes of Legend of the Seeker2008–2010Same network — SyndicationIn a mythical land, one man, Richard Cypher, discovers his true destiny as he, a mysterious young woman, a wise old wizard and a magical sword are all that stand between the evil tyrant Darken Rahl and his quest for…
